Update on the Ferguson Library

You remember the Ferguson Library. In 2014, the librarian there was our top Book Culture Hero. After Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer, shot unarmed black teenager Michael Brown, the grief and anger in the community led to many months of protests. Many organizations–even schools–shut down during this time. But Ferguson Library kept the doors open. More than that, they provided support for the community, including acting as ad-hoc schools and providing healing kits for children to teach how to cope with traumatic events.

In response to the excellent work that the library was doing during this difficult time, news coverage spread across the country (and even internationally), and donations followed. In fact, hundreds of thousands of dollars of donations were given to Ferguson Library! Now, two years later, they want to share what they were able to do with these donations. An email was sent out to those who donated to show the improvements that have been made using this money.

Here’s some of what they’ve been up to:

The extra funding allowed the library to become community-focused, with a design and programming that focuses on the needs of the community. They were able to hire on a full-time Children’s Services and Programming Librarian, Amy Randazzo.

They worked with Storycorps to directly record the stories of some of stories in the community.

They were able to replace their computers that were “literally held together with duct tape and wire” and expand the fleet from 9 to 18 (plus a laptop lab that was donated!)

Handicapped-accessible doors were put in, and the uneven patchwork of carpet was replaced.

The “grungy” bathrooms have been replaced (with genderneutral, accessible single stalls).

They were able to get a “smart board”, which helps with many of their programs.

They have also continued to do great community programs, including:

coding classes

robotics classes

skyping with authors

tutoring

a “readings on race book club”, which gives members a book as a common language to address race across differences

Libraries have always been important places for community, and they are only going to get more crucial. Communities like Ferguson need their libraries to have the funding to be able to support them. I hope you consider donating again to keep Ferguson Library able to provide for the needs of their community. Having a Children’s Services and Programming Librarian has been a huge help for them, and I hope they are able to continue this work in the future.

Danika Ellis: Danika spends most of her time talking about queer women books on tumblr and at the Lesbrary, as well as chatting about all sorts of bookish things on booktube. When she’s not immersed in the bookternet, she’s running the kids’ section in the largest used bookstore in Canada.
Blog: The Lesbrary
Twitter: @DanikaEllis